Switch-stand



N. E. SALSICH.

SWITCH STAND.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET N 4- Patented July 12, 1921 N. E. SALSICH.

SWITCH STAND. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8. 1918.

Patented July 12, 1921.

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Patented July 12, 1921. 4/ 5 $HEETSSHEET 3.

N. E. SALSICH.

SWITCH STAND. I APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8. 1918.

1,384,488. Patented July 12, 1921.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4- N. E. SALSICH..

SWITCH STAND. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8, 1918' 1,384,488. Patented u1y12,.1921.

5 SHETS-SHEET 5.

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. ab'fmeggi Cir NEIL E. SALSIGH, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH-STAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 12, 1921.

Application filed November 8, 1918. Serial No. 261,629.

To alt 10 tom it may concern Be it known that I, NEIL E. Sansron, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Bethlehem, county of Lehigh, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Stands, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to railroad switch mechanism and more particularly to switch stands therefor.

The principal objects o1 the invention are to provide a mechanism of the class mentioned above which comprises a minimum number of simple parts; to provide a dcpcndable structure; to provide a mechanism of this type which is protected from the weather; to provide reliable means for lubricating the moving parts; and generally to improve this class of devices.

Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent from the description taken in connection with the drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a top plan view oi? a switch illustrating a switch stand embodying the present invention in connection therewith:

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 2- of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a swit h stand constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. t is a front shown. in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3. the actuating lever being shown in vertical position;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating a modification;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating a form of the invention adapted elevation of the stand "for a target;

Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating a stand adapted for a target and having a modified form of switch rod operating arm; the actuating lever being in horizontal position;

Fig. 10 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is sectional view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating a further modification;

Fig. 12 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on the line 12-42 of Fig. 11; and

F 1g 13 181 21. sectional View to a larger scale illustrating the lost motion connection between the switch operating rod and the switch bar; and a i Fig. 14 is a sectional view showin another construction for mounting the target mast.

Referring" to the drawings and more especial ly to Figs. 3 a and 5, the numeral 20 indicates the base plate of the switch stand, which as shown, is substantially rectaneular asviewed in plan. Substantially clintrally located on the plate is a raised portion forming a housing 21, which as shown in Fig. 5 has an open bottom and is also open at one of the lateral edgesoi the plate.

The actuating lever 22 is pivoted at the front of the housing as by means of the spindle 23 rotatively mounted in the bore 24%. In order to aid in holding the switch against displacement the weight 25 may be secured to the end of the lever as by casting the weight thereon. The lever 22 is designed to occupy the position shown in Figs. 3 and t or to be thrown over to a position opposite thereto. In either one of these positions a pad 26 is provided on the base plate for the lever to rest on and each of these pads may have an upwardly extending lug 2'7 termed with an aperture 28 ear the top thereof for a pin or other means to positively secure the lever against displace ment. 1

The swinging motion of the lever 22 is converted into substantially rectilinear movement oi? the switch operating rod 29 by mechanism disposed within the housing 21. As shown the top wall of the housing has a depending post 30 on which is rotatively mounted the segmental bevel gear 31.

This gear isprovided with the switch oper-v ating rod arm so which 18 pivotally connected to one end of the switch operating rod 29. the rod extending into the housing through the open side previously mentioned. The spindle 23 projects into the housing and has a squared end 33 on which is mounted the segmental bevel pinion 34, a cotter pin 35 preventing axial movement of this pinion in one direction on the spindle. The arrangement of the gears is such that the gear 31 is disposed above the pinion 84; and is supported by the latter against downward axial movement on the post 80. Be-

cause of this arrangement no devices arerequired to holdthe gear against downward movement. At its upper end the hub of the gear 31 may rest against a seat 3% at the base of the post 30.

For the purpose of lubricating the moving parts, the segmental gear 31 is formed at the top thereof with the oil reservoir 37, and a duct 38 is provided to connect the reservoir and the bore of the gear, thus providing means for lubricating the hearing between the gear and the post. If desired the teeth of the gears may be lubricated through the duct-39 formed in the gear 31. In order to supplyoil to the reservoir the top wall of the housing is formed with the oil hole 10 which may be closed by a spring oiler 411 of any desired type.

In the operation of the stand just described, the actuating lever 22 is swung through an angle of substantially 180 thereby turning the bevel pinion 341 and the gear 31. The arm 32 which is connected with the gear thus moves the actuating rod 29 in a direction to throw the switch. With the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 3',

' the toothless portion of the bevel pinion is at the left, thus permitting the arm 32 to approach closer to the axis of said" pinion than if a gear having teeth throughout its periphery were employed. This isan important feature, for the reason that it allows the arm to swing through equal angles a 6 on each side of the line d, e, perpendicular to the general direction of movement of the rod 29. r

The construction illustrated in Fig. 6 is similar to that already described except that the hub of the gear 131 is closed at one end as at 110. thus providing an oil reservoir 111 within the hollow post 130. For the purpose of supplying lubricant to this reservoir the top wall of the housing 121 may be formed with an oil hole 1410 normally closed by any suitable type of spring oiler 1-1. The oil within the reservoir will lubri- V cate the bearing between the hub of the gear the able means such and the post and by means of the duct 138 may pass into the chamber or 011 reservoir 1.37 formed at the top of the gear 131 and thence through a duct 139 to the teeth of gears. The remaining parts of the stand are the same as describedin connection with Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate the present invention as embodied in a stand havin a tar et. v P") D The top wall of the housing 221 has the bosses. 212 formed with the bore 213 for the elongated hub of the gear 231. The target mast 21 1 is disposed in the bore 215 ofthe gear 231 and secured thereto by any suit as a pin 216. The top of the gear is formed with the oil reservoir 237, an arcuate-flange 217 being provided on the gear outside of the boss 212 toiprevent loss of lubricant from the reservoir 237. The oil may be supplied to the reservoir through an oil hole 240 closed by a spring oiler 11. The teeth of the meshing gears .may be lubricated from the reservoir through a duct As clearly shown in Fig. 8, the gear 231 is operatively connected to one end of the switch operating-rod 29 by means of the arm 232 integral with said gear. l

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 is similar to that shown in i igs. 7 and 8 except that the means for connecting the gear 331 and the switch operating rod 29 is different. Instead of providing a laterally projecting arm on the gear, the hub is extended downward to proradially with respect to the aXisof the gear 331.

in Figs. 11 and 12 a form of the inven tion is illustrated in whichthe target mast is provided with two spaced bearings. Thus the top wall of the'housing 4:21 is'formed with a bore 4.13 for the target mast 414 and the housing also has a bottom wall 409 provided with a bore 408 alined"with the bore The target 4.1.4 is rotatively mounted in the two bores 108 and 113 and has se- 7 cured thereto for rotation therewith the segmental bevel gear 4131, a pin 107 being employed for this purpose. The gear is formed with the oil reservoir 137 in the manner previously described and for the purpose of connecting the gear and the switch operating rod 29 the hub with the oitset lug 116 through which is threaded the eye belt 418, the axis of the:

bolt eing offset relative to the axis of the ta mast and being substantially perpendicular thereto. Fig. 14; shows another construction employing targetmast. .In this form the bevel gear has the lower end of its hub formed with the small bore for the mast which is secured thereinby a pin and which has: a bee ring at 513 inthe top of the hous} mg. this hearing being of substantially the same diameter as the bore 516. The interior of the post 530 is spaced from the mast, thus reducing the fr ..tion due I to turning the r The top of the gear 531 has the oil chamber 537 and the ducts 538 and 539 for oil to thepost bearing and the gear This construction proot the gear is formed herein it will be observed that the gears are disposed so that the large segmental bevel gear is supported against downward axial movement by the pinion, and this is true in the forms having the target mast connected to the gear. l urthermore, the housing ruined integral with the base plate provides means for protecting the mechanism from the weather and accidents. Furthermore, a switch stand constructed in accordance with this invention has a minimum number of parts and these parts are exceedingly simple, easy to make and assemble. For example, in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3, and 5, it will be observed that the complete switch stand comprises but sir: parts, even including the cotter pin and oiler.

it has been found practically impossible to construct a switch stand in accordance w. h the present invention and have the parts suthciently strong without giving an excessive throw to the switch. This is particularly true in connection with narrow gage railways. In order to permit the construction of the switch stand or the desired strength and. yet obtain the desired throw, a lost motion connection has been provided between the switch operating rod 29 and the switch bar d5. This construction is illustrated in detail in Fig. 13. The end of the rod 291s threaded as at 46 and has a nut 4:7

near the end thereof. A sleeve 48 is provided which has a nut integral therewith at one end screwed on to said threaded portion ib. This sleeve, as shown is of larger diameter than the rod and consequently out of contact with the threaded portion. The sleeve is secured in any adjusted position on the red by a lock nut 50. A connecting member 51. has one end bifurcated as at52 tor pivotal connection to the switch. bar Q5. The opposite end is formed as a sleeve 53 slidably mounted. on the sleeve e8. When the switch rod 29 is moved toward the left as viewed in l?" 1.3 the nut t? contacts with a shoulder 5e at the end ot. the sleeve and through the member 51 actuates the switch bar and switch. When the switch operating rod is moved toward the right as shown in Fig. 1.3, the sleeve 48 will move relative to the sleeve without communicating any motion to the latter until the shoulder 55 strikes the end of the sleeve Thereafter the motion of the rod will be communicated e;- the bar and the switch thrown. it will be seen that this construction provides anadjustable lost motion connection between the switch stand the switch and permits a stand of sul'istantial construction to be built although the throw given by the stand itself more than desired.

Although several specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not thus limited but includes modifications pinion within the chamber mounted for turning about horizontal axis, a gear in mesh with the pinion. and held thereby against axial movement in one direction, said gear provided with an arm on its hub adapted to be connected to the switch operating rod, and means to turn said pinion.

2. A. switclrstand including in combina tion, base plate adapted to be secured to the cross ties of the road bed having an integral raised portion forming a housing closed at the top and open at one of the lateral edges of the plates, a switch operating rod extending into said housing through said opening, an actuating lever pivotally mounted at the opposite side of said housing, and means within said housing to convert swinging movement of said lever into substantially rectilinear movement of said rod.

A. switch stand including in combination, a base plate adapted to be secured to the cross-ties of the road bed, having a chamber with an open side, a gear within said chamberrotatable about a vertical axis ha ing an arm for connection to the switch operating rod extending into the chamber through said opening, shaft extending into said chamber opposite said open side, a pinion on said shaft in said housing meshing with said gear, and a lever on said shaft outside said housing to turn Said pinion, the pinion being disposed close to the hub of said gear, whereby a small pinion and gear may be employed.

4:; A switch stand including in combination, a base plate adapted to be secured to the cross-ties ot the road bed, having a chamber with an open side, a gear within housing piv-otally mounted thereon for tation'about a vertical axis and having an arm. movable in a horizontal plane above the bottom of said base plate, a switch operating rod extending into the housingthrough said opening an d pivoted to said arm, a pinion in said housing meshing with said gear and rotatable about ahorizontal axis, and a lever outside said housing to turn said pinion.

5. i). switch stand including in combination, a base plate adapted to be secured to the cross-ties of the road bed, having a chamber with an open sine, a gear within said housing: pivotal'ly mountedthereon for rotation about vertical axis and havingan integral arm, a switch operating rod extending into the housing through said opening and pivoted to said arm, a pinion in said housing meshing with said gear and rotatable about a horizontal axis, and a lever outside said housing to turn said pini-on, the

- gear being above the pinion and supported post depending from the top thereof, a bevel thereby against downward displacement.

.6. A switch stand including in combination, a base plate having a housing, a switch operating rod extending into said housing, a bevel gear within the housing having a bearing therein for rotation about a vertical axis, a bevel pinion within the housing meshing with said gear mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, and an arm on said gear pivotally connected to said rod, the top of said gear formed to provide an oil reservoir and a duct from said reservoir to'said bearing. I

7. A switch stand including in combination, a base plate having a housing, a switch operating rod extending into said'housing,

a bevel earwithin the housing having a e h o u bearing thcreln for rotation about a vertical axis, a bevel pinlon within the housing meshing with said gear mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis and an arm on said gear pivotally connected to said rod, the top of said gear formed to provide an oil reservoir, a duct fromsaid reservoir to said bearing, and a ductto feed oil to the gear teeth from said reservoir.

8. A switch stand including in combine-f tion, a base plate having housing with a gear within the housing pivoted on said est a bevel )inion meshinn with said ear disposed below said gear for rotation about an axis substantially at right angles to the axis of the post, whereby the gear is supthe. housing,

ported against downward movement on the post, a switch-rod operating arm on the gear, and means to turn the plnion.

9. A switch stand including in combina tion, a base plate having a housing integral therewith, a post depending from the top of a member rotatively mounted on said post having an arm for connection to the switch operating rod, an actuating lever outside the housing, a second member withinthe, housing to transmit movement from said lever to the first member and disposed below the first member to support the latter against downward movement.

10. A switch stand including in combination, a base plate having an integral housing, a hollow post depending from the top ofsa-id housing, a switch rod operating arm pivoted onsaid post, an actuating lever outside the housing, means within the housing operatively connecting the lever and arm, means closing the lower end of the post whereby an oil'reservoir is provided, and

means to distribute oil to the bearing of the arm on the post. 11. A switch stand including in combination, abase' plate having an integral housing, a hollow post depending from the top of said housing, a sleeve pivoted on said post having a switch operating'arm, said sleeve closing the lower end of the post thereby forming an oil reservoir, an actuating lever outside the housing, and means within the housin operatively connectingthe lever and arm. i

12. A switch stand including in combination, a base platc having a raised portion forming a housing open at one side of said plate, a post depending from the top of said housing, -a switch operating arm pivoted on said post, an actuating lever outside said housing, and means within the housing operatively connez-ting the lever and arm.

13. In combination, a switch, a switch stand the minimum throw of which is greater than desired, a rod actuated by Said stand, a switch bar associated with the switch, and a lost motion device connecting said rod and bar, said device including two spaced nuts threaded on the rod, a member conne ted to the bar having a portion slidable between said nuts, the length of said;

portion being less than the distance between said nuts, one of said nuts having a sleeve interposed between said portion and the threaded part of the rod, to protect V the bread.

14-. The combination with a switch stand, a switch and means connecting the two parts comprising rod member actuated by said stand, a bar member associated with the switch, one of said members having a threaded end portion, two spaced nuts on said portion, the other member having a sleeve slid'able between said nuts, the length of said sleeve being less than the distance between said nuts, and a sleeve interposed between said threaded portion and the first mentioned sleeve to protect the thread.

15. A switch stand including in combination, a base having a housing, a bevel gear within the housing mounted to turn. about a horizontal axis, a bevel gear rotatable about a vertical axisinmesh with said first gear, said latter gearhaving a switch operating arm movable ina horizontal plane at substantially the same elevation as the axis of said first gear.

16. A. switch stand. including in combination, base having a housing, a bevel gear within the housing mounted to turn about a horizontal axis, a bevel ge'ar in mesh with said first gear mounted to turn about a vertical axis and having a switch operatingarm movable in a plane above "the bottom of the base. the mid-position of the throw of said arm being substantially perpendicular to the axis of the first mentioned gear.

In testimony whereof I aihx my signature.

NEIL E. SALSICH. 

